Machine for cutting grass and the like, with front action and central storage container between the front and rear wheels

Abstract: A machine for cutting grass and the like of the type comprising a frame (1a) to which are made integral an operating engine (2), a driving seat (3), means (4) for steering the machine and a front grass-cutting plate (60), characterized in that such grass-cutting plate (60) comprises at least one or more pairs of cutting blades (61) made to rotate via means (2a, 63, 66, 67, 61a) of transmission of the drive from engine (2) and a guard (62) for protecting such cutting blades, which is extended toward the middle part of the machine by a duct (63) capable of engaging a cut-grass collecting container (9) located centrally with respect to the axes of rotation of front wheels (7) and rear wheel (8) of the machine and located in the lower position grazing the ground as shown in fig. 3, the action of pushing the cut grass toward such container being exerted by the pressure generated by the rotation of cutting blades (61).

Description: The object of this invention is a machine for cutting grass and the like comprising a front grass-cutting plate connected to a cut-grass collecting container located centrally with respect to the axes of rotation of the front and rear wheels of the machine, the action of pushing the cut grass toward such container being exerted by the pressure generated by the rotation of the cutters. Particularly, the present invention relates to a machine for cutting grass according to the preamble of claim 1. There are known in engineering numerous types of self-propelled devices for cutting the grass of both small and large lawns. Such known devices, however, display numerous disadvantages associated with their general design which provides for cutting only, without recovery of the cut grass, the latter being simply ejected sideways from the mower making subsequent gathering necessary, or else cutting and recovery of the cut grass is carried out using ancillary means such as turbines and the like which make oversizing necessary either because of the overall dimensions of the device or because of the motive power to be used. There is therefore posed the technical problem of providing a self-propelled device capable of cutting the grass in the forward position and at the same time collecting the cut grass without the need for ancillary components which increase the overall dimensions and power consumption. Such device should furthermore ensure high manoeuvrability with suitable edge guides for high cutting accuracy and should be equipped with means for transmission of movement capable of also allowing control of the cutting height and adaptation of the cutting plate to the unevenness of the ground. US-A-4,974,403 discloses a grass cutting machine for use on a walking operator type lawn mower having a single cutter, wherein the machine is provided with a centrally located grass collecting container being disposed above the cutting blade in order to do without a duct or the like for transmitting the cut grass. Each of the documents FR-A-2 681 216, US-A-4 709 541 and EP-A-0 468 362 discloses a grass cutting machine with a front mounted grass-cutting plate, in each case the guard protecting the cutters is extended by a duct toward the side of the machine and not toward the middle part of the machine. A machine for cutting grass or the like according to the pre-characterizing clause of claim 1 is known from the EP-A-0 532 068. Within the context of the above mentioned problem, a further technical requirement is the ability to obtain ease of access to the mechanical parts for normal ordinary and extraordinary maintenance operations without it being necessary to use auxiliary equipment such as jacks and the like. Such results are obtained with the present invention, which provides a machine for cutting grass and the like according to the characterizing part of claim 1. Further details may be obtained from the following description with reference to the attached drawings, which show: In figure 1 : a perspective view of the grass-cutting machine according to the invention; In figure 2 : a schematic view of the machine in fig. 1 with a diagram of the transmission of the drive to the cutting blades; In figure 3 : a partial longitudinal schematic section of the machine in figure 1; In figure 4 : the flow diagram of collection of the cut grass, and In figure 5 : the cut-grass collecting device withdrawn for emptying. As shown in figure 1, grass-cutting machine 1 according to the invention consists of a frame 1a to which are made integral operating engine 2 located in an elevated position at the rear, driving seat 3 located in a substantially central elevated position, steering system 4 located in the forward position, footrest 5 for supporting the feet of the operator and cutting plate 60 located in the forward position at ground level. Engine 2 is linked by the driving system to front wheels 7 via means of transmission which are self-evident and therefore only shown schematically at 2a in fig. 3 and not described in detail. The single, rear idle-wheel 8 is instead made integral with frame 1a by fork 8a which is capable of being rotated by pivot 8b operated via self-evident means of transmission by steering wheel 4a. Grass-cutting plate 60 essentially consists of a pair of cutters 61 with cutting blades 61a located parallel to the ground and protected from impacts and the like by a guard 62 which extends upward toward the middle part of machine 1 with a duct 63, the upper part of end 63a of which, opposite to plate 60, is capable of being inserted into a corresponding seat 9a of a cut-grass collecting box 9 located in an intermediate position between front wheels 7 and rear wheel 8 and below frame 1a, while the lower part of the same end of the duct is made integral with box 9 by means of a horizontal-axis hinge 63a. The transmission of movement to cutters 61 is effected via a gearwheel 2a operated by engine 2 and connected to drive shafts 61a of cutters 61 via a kinematic chain consisting of toothed belts 65 and return idle-wheels 66 connected by means of a pair of universal joints 67 capable of transmitting the drive to cutters 61 regardless of the tilt assumed by cutting plate 60 in relation to the change of slope of the ground. Since, however, the cutting plate should shift its own cutting plane parallel to itself, such universal joints 67 comprise two tubular members 67a and 67b joined together telescopically in order to allow for the change of slope of the cutting plate in relation to the unevenness of the ground, such change being determined by a wheel 10 projecting forward of guard 62 and linked to it by means of a rigid member 10a. When wheel 10 encounters an unevenness in the ground it causes the raising of cutting plate 60 which, due to the combined effect of the rotary movement around hinge 63a and the relative movement of tubular components 67a and 67b of universal joint 67, performs a substantially rectilinear raising and lowering movement. The rotary movement of cutters 61, in addition to bringing about cutting of the grass, generates air pressure in the direction of collecting box 9 as shown by the arrow in fig. 4, so that the cut grass is sucked in and blown through duct 63 into box 9. Such box 9 is made integral with frame 1a by means of a hinge 9b which extends across the width of box 9 and is capable of sliding on a guide 1b of frame 1, thus making it possible to withdraw box 9 by pulling appropriate handle 9c; once box 9 is fully withdrawn it remains linked in cantilever to the frame by means of hinge 9c around which it may be made to rotate so as to empty it as shown in dotted outline in fig. 5. Many variants may be introduced without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims: A machine for cutting grass and the like of the type comprising a frame (1a) to which are made integral an operating engine (2), a driving seat (3), means (4) for steering the machine, a container (9) for collecting cut grass, a grass-cutting plate (60), comprising at least one pair of cutters (61) made to rotate via means (2a, 65, 66, 67, 61a) of transmission of the drive from engine (2) and a guard (62) for protecting such cutters (61), and a duct (63) extending from the guard to the cut grass collecting container (9), the action of pushing the cut grass toward such container being exerted by the pressure generated by the rotation of cutters (61), characterized in that the grass-cutting plate (60) is located in front of the machine, the duct (63) extends toward the middle part of the machine and the container (9) is located centrally with respect to the axes of rotation of front wheels (7) and rear wheel (8) of the machine. A machine for cutting grass and the like according to claim 1, characterized in that such means of transmission of the drive from engine (2) to cutters (61) comprise at least one pair of universal joints (67) consisting respectively of two tubular members (67a, 67b) telescopically connected to one another and capable of allowing shifting parallel to itself of the horizonal cutting plane of cutters (61). A machine for cutting grass and the like according to claim 1, characterized in that such container (9) has an opening (9a) capable of engaging the end of such duct (63) of guard (62) of grass-cutting plate (60). A machine for cutting grass and the like according to claim 1, characterized in that such container (9) is made integral with frame (1a) via means of connection (9b) capable of allowing lateral movement of container (9) out of the machine as well as its rotation around a horizontal axis to bring about tipping thereof and therefore ejection of the cut grass. A machine for cutting grass and the like according to claim 4, characterized in that such means of connection substantially consist of a hinge (9b) capable of sliding on guides integral with frame (1a). A machine for cutting grass and the like according to claim 1, characterized in that such duct (63) is made integral with container (9) by means of at least one hinge of substantially horizontal axis to enable cutting plate (60) to adapt to the ground on locating any unevenness in the said ground. A machine for cutting grass and the like according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotation of cutters (61) determines the overpressure needed to blow the cut grass into container (9) through duct (63).

Inventors: FAVA NEDO, FERRARI CLAUDIO, FAVA, NEDO, FERRARI, CLAUDIO
Applicants: BIEFFEBI SRL, OFFICINE BIEFFEBI S.R.L.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A01D34
IPC codes: A01D34, A01D43